Sarah Palin Searches for the Great Outdoors

The former VP candidate on politics and social media, running for office again, and her new TV show, 'Amazing America'

ENLARGE

Sarah Palin
Axel Dupeux for The Wall Street Journal

By

Alexandra Wolfe

April 10, 2014 11:24 a.m. ET

Sarah Palin is walking through a suite in the Peninsula New York Hotel in midtown Manhattan trying to find the great outdoors. The former GOP vice presidential candidate is being photographed before the launch of her new reality series, "Amazing America," which features human-interest tales about outdoor adventures, ranging from a blacksmith championship to a car race among pastors. But the suite doesn't even have a landscape painting. She finally finds a window to pose in front of, but it's facing a brick wall, not the wilderness.

Crammed into two tiny rooms with eight other people—including her husband and two handlers—Ms. Palin doesn't want to be "burned" by unflattering photographs, which has happened in the past, she says. Wearing a V-neck shirt, black skinny jeans and a glittering "Girls with Guns" belt and buckle, she also doesn't want to wear the camouflage jacket that the photographer has brought for her, nor will she succumb to his French charm. She certainly doesn't want to perch on any furniture.

Watch the trailer for television reality series "Amazing America With Sarah Palin," which premiered on the Sportsman Channel on April 3. (Photo/Video: The Sportsman Channel)

As the photographer clicks away, Jason Recher, a former George W. Bush aide and her longtime aide, tries to move things along. "Next frame, next frame, next frame," he says, glancing over the photographer's shoulder. Ms. Palin has a busy schedule this day. She has had back-to-back meetings and appearances, and over the course of the hourlong interview and photo shoot, she drinks several glasses of Diet Coke.

Her handlers say that she wants this interview to focus on her new show on the Sportsman Channel, not on politics. But she hasn't shied away from the political debate, as shown by her daily FacebookFB-1.26% and Twitter posts (often in all-caps) about foreign and domestic policy. She has given public support to a few Republican candidates and will soon head to a fundraiser for Lizbeth Benacquisto, a state senator in Florida who is running for Congress.

Ms. Palin deflects questions about whether she herself will run for office in 2016. "My plans are more immediate than that," she says, "and that is helping get good people elected in 2014 to undo much of the blundered Barack Obama agenda that has not allowed the economic recovery in this country that Americans deserve." By trying to put new people in positions of power, such as Greg Abbott, a Republican gubernatorial candidate in Texas, and Joni Ernst, a Republican Senate candidate in Iowa, she says that she hopes to help "get America on the right track in getting people hired and industry back here cruising and booming—that's what we need in America!"

Much of Ms. Palin's campaigning has been on social media. She likes putting her views online, she says, because she thinks that she can get her message out more directly. "I'm not a big fan of the conventional—[what] I call 'lamestream'—media because they too often filter my message," she says. "I get to go right to the people and the millions of followers I have on my Facebook, and I get to talk to them and interact with them." Ms. Palin has 1.05 million Twitter followers and more than 4 million Facebook-page likes.

As she starts to discuss how political correctness is part of the media's filter, the publicist from the Sportsman Channel, who is sitting next to her, clears his throat. (When asked later if he was cuing her, he said that he wasn't; he had a cold.) She changes gears quickly: "A show like this, which is unfiltered, is going to be very refreshing because, no! It's not going to be politically correct," she says. "Thank God! Because most people aren't politically correct, and that's relatable."

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Why didn't she run in 2012? "Too busy," she says quickly. "Young family, busy family, lots going on, and today there's still a lot going on." She prefers endorsing candidates, "finding underdogs who have a servant's heart and have the ability and they have the willingness to serve America for the right reasons," she says. The publicist clears his throat again, and she continues: "But the show isn't political at all; it is about hardworking, patriotic, everyday American life that needs to be highlighted. We need more family-oriented, positive, uplifting shows to watch, and this is going to be one of them."

The great outdoors have inspired many of Ms. Palin's key phrases and political ideas. She came up with the term "Mama Grizzly" a few years ago after watching a group of bears catching salmon in Homer, Alaska. She soon realized, "The mamas are doing all the work!" While the male bears played and wrestled, she says, the females "are catching the fish and feeding the babies, and they're protecting the babies and taking swats at any other bear that would come bug their cubs and perhaps be a threat to their cubs," she explains. After observing the bears that day, she discovered, "It's the mama grizzlies that are looking out for that next generation," she says. "So politically, I'm finding mama grizzlies who will look out for America's future."

How would she convince women to vote Republican in 2016 if Hillary Clinton ended up being the Democratic nominee? "Hopefully gender isn't going to be an issue in anyone's judgment of who the best candidate will be to help lead America," she replies. "I'm fortunate to have grown up in a very independent and hardworking family where gender was never an issue."

Ms. Palin doesn't hesitate to criticize members of her own political party. Earlier that week, she had called Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposal a "joke." She wrote on her Facebook page, "It STILL is not proposing reining in wasteful government overspending TODAY." Today, she says, "We should make government as irrelevant in our lives as possible."

Ms. Palin also resents government surveillance, as she makes clear in referring to Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who leaked documents about the agency's collection of data, including the phone call records of millions of Americans. "Snowden isn't the problem!" she says. "The American government spying on its own people is the problem!" She finishes her thought by saying, "The smaller the government, the bigger the people, and this show talks about big, bold, beautiful America."

One area where Ms. Palin doesn't want to reduce government spending is the military. She says that with a strengthened military, she would have handled Russia's annexation of Crimea differently from how President Obama did. "I'd put the fear of God in our enemies!" she almost shouts. "Like Ronald Reagan did! I wouldn't be cutting the military. You strengthen the military!"

In her view, is Russia or China a bigger threat? "We don't know enough about what China is capable of yet, so I'd have to say Russia," she says. But she remains concerned about the Middle East. She calls the area a "tinderbox with dangerous cells going that are full of bad guys," adding, "We need to have our defenses ready!"

Ms. Palin's own defenses have slightly weakened over the course of the hour, so she finally agrees to put on the camouflage jacket. Standing in front of a white screen next to the bathtub, she holds her lapels and alternates between a tough-lower-lip-jut and a nervous glance at her strategist. "I think it's too big," she says of the jacket, adding, "I wanted to wear black." Mr. Recher seconds this opinion. He wants to get her out of the marble bathroom so that he can whisk her down the hall to her next appointment.

Ms. Palin waves goodbye with her widest campaign smile and says that she wants us all to come visit her up in the great outdoors.

To the "journalist" who wrote this. Make sure, if you ever get a chance to interview Hillary Clinton that you include exclamation marks where you see fit! So she will look dumb! Also note how much water, coke, or coffee she drinks! Because that is relevant! Please! And especially if Hillary discusses what she is wearing! Make sure you report on it! Becasue that makes her look like a dumb girl! But I'm sure Hillary or no other good liberal women have ever drunk something during an interview or discussed what they wear between photo shots! Because good liberal women are too SMART! THAT"S RIGHT, THEY ARE REAL REAL SMART!

Save Obama from what, Dolan? Obama has already been elected POTUS by the majority of Americans. The question is: what is the future of the Republican party, which has been taken over by far right dopes who think that Palin is presidential material.

Sarah Palin is an embarrassment. This what happens when you have inferior intellect being spurred on by the delusions of "everyday" Walmart dullards. Why can't more conservatives be like David Brooks or even William F. Buckley. But you have the WSJ and Fox that celebrates aggressive stupidity. Sarah Palin personifies why most civilized countries make fun of us for being dumb Americans.

From Alaska - a plus.Believes in sustainable use of natural resources - a plus.Couldn't finish her term as Governor - a negative.More bombast than intellect and reason - a turn-off.

Not a Fan.

The question is to identify what she contributes to the political discussion in this country. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, and Paul Ryan have already enunciated, far more ably and in a more dignified manner, the argument for conservative policies. Perhaps she'll start doing advertisements on late-night television for miracle fishing lures.

Ms Palin modestly asserts that she will not be politically correct. She sells herself short. I am absolutely confident that, in all things---not just politics, but in all things, she will be dazzlingly and breathtakingly incorrect.

So why do these lefty trolls troll here at the WSJ? If the Journal charged membership and only allowed those folks to blog I wonder how many would? I mean I don't blog at the NY Times or Huff or DailyKos. What's in it for them? Why would they come in here and s-it all over the place? Are they paid? I am beginning to think a lot of them are. Paula Dowling? Someone wrote they saw her picture available on istockphoto.com. How many others are here either getting paid for it by lefty groups (scary) or just posting these intentionally divisive comments? Maybe the men have pen-s envy problems or some such mental ailments? Maybe the woman are single for life and bitter old prunes? Could be.

I don't think she's an idiot simply because she writes on her hand, or because she can't name one single newspaper she reads, or because she uses non existent words in dialogue, or because she quit half way thru her term as governor, or because she endorses witches, or because she offers plenty of criticism but no solutions, or because all she does is fundraising and cheerleading. No, I do not call her an idiot for any of those reasons.

I call her an idiot for one very simple reason, … because she is an idiot.

nick offers, "If anyone wanted living proof of the decline and intellectual deficit/drought we're going through as a Nation, mama griz palin is it!!"

Yet, she was the most qualified presidential candidate on the tickets. Instead, we have an Administration that has forced more people out of employment and into poverty than any other modern presidency. Under Obama, the Rich are fewer and Richer while the Poor are greater and Poorer. Wow! And, let me guess, you voted for more of the same? Of course you did! Good grief!

Palin has run for office, may run for office. Sandra Fluke is a political prop. Every party uses them. People like their symbols.

Now to the bigot point, what did I say was bigoted? I said that Sarah Palin's strongest supporters are downscale Republican whites. Would it be bigoted to say that Obama's most ardent supporters are Ivy educated, registered democrat blacks? These are facts.

Joan, I'm not sure you care for facts, as you obviously just have rage and synonyms. That's fine. If you look at the stats, they clearly show that Sarah Palin does better with people of lower income than higher income. She does best with under 24K. Now Walmart is not meant to be taken literally, it's a short hand. You know like limo liberal.

Joan I just can't help myself to watch you contort yourself in all sorts of ways to suit your worldview. And the Sandra Fluke argument, what is that? A Rush talking point. She's a no good, not working for it sl*&. She's at Georgetown, which is catholic in name only as an institution. Most schools offer contraceptives to it's students. It's part of the overall cost of attending.

And how on earth are Sarah Palin and Sandra Fluke relevant? They don't participate in the same arena. Sandra is not a politician. Sarah at this point is a has been pol. She won't run in 2016. She can't even finish being Gov, so what makes anyone think she can do the job. Her and Dan Quayle should get together.

Joan, how am I a bigot. Let's think about who were Palin's most ardent supporters, working class to middle class Walmart shoppers. People who are against a more multicultural America. People who are against a more scientific, more secular America. People who react favorably to Obama portrayed as alien, as someone not even born here, who doesn't have the right to be President. That is Sarah Palin's core group of voters. I have nothing against white people. I'm white. What I'm against is stupidity.

Obama, yeah he garnered 90% of the black vote. Did some of that have to do with the simple fact that he's black? Of course it does. He also captured the imagination of young people, educated people. people who want progress and not to cling to their guns and religion. I'm glad he said that. it's true. It's not racist or bigoted.

Also of course I know that Sarah Palin didn't exactly say that but her interview with KC speaks for itself. She's dim. People who fell in love with her, tended to be dim. I'm stil surprised that bill Kristol saw something in her.

It's not elitist it's true. I'm not running for office, I know that a politician can't say that, because feelings get hurt. Sarah Palin captured the imagination of the dumb white person, who sees that they're falling behind, but doesn't understand why. And they think foolishly that Sarah Palin will do something substantial for them. She may get a few more jobs on the firing lines because of an increase in the war machine.

The blue collar middle class keeps getting displaced by technology, what would Sarah Palin do for the crowd that thinks Red Lobster is good seafood and likes their Italian the Olive Garden way.

I'm happy as can be not living anywhere close to a Walmart. Sure I've shopped there, but where Walmart is prominent, forward thinking is not.

Obama is worse an embarrassment. He is a walking, talking disaster who has stagnated the U.S. economy, forced millions of Americans to lose their health insurance, created trillions of dollars in debt and has weakened America's influence throughout the world.

The interesting thing about a name like Mark Rukman is that it doesn't take much to figure out who it is and what they do for a living. I wonder if your co-workers who shop at Wal-Mart know what you think of them. Actually I do know, they know you for the snob you are.

- Waste nearly a $Trillion dollars on something called "shovel ready" jobs?- Rack up about $10 Trillion in debt - all in one presidency - to be dumped onto future generations?- Give a stupid button to the Russians with "reset" spelled wrong in Russian?- Take separate vacations that cost $millions of your kids money - because Mr. Palin chose to fly back with his own entourage and couldn't really stoop to Air Force 1? - Make our foreign policy into a joke by drawing "red lines" that are laughed at?- Allow the mullahs to build the bomb? (kind of premature - but not by much)- Not know that a Navy Corpsman was pronounced "core-man"?- Spend a record number of days on the golf course?- Launch a website for her signature initiative that remains a joke of late night comics?

If you want to talk about being politically irrelevant, try taking it up with the guy who's lost the House, soon will lose the Senate and told your momma that she could keep her doctor. Period.

So much for those Ivy degrees that we never got the transcripts on. Maybe Community Organizer isn't quite as great a preparation for Leader of the Free World as folks like you thought it was. Feeling like a dope yet?

You mean like the $billions funneled into clean energy crud like Solyndra or those $100's of billions funneled into something called "stimulus" - only to find out that there really weren't too many jobs that were "shovel ready".

Just want to be clear because, if you really want to talk "big bucks", there's no bigger spender than your hero. The difference with Palin is, it ain't your kids money that she's collecting.

You can go back to wearing your Hillary 2016 button now. I hope by then, your momma will still get to keep her doctor.

Mr Oh, any reader, other than leftist haters like you, recognizes your little juvenile attempts at insult, pathetically disguised as human interest. Shall we similarly drag out every politician on the left and investigate their alleged sexual engagements?

And your response was racist. I'm sure your black friends would be proud.

Joe - I'm sure that you - along with people like you - were thrilled to hear Sarah exclaim during the campaign tht she could see Russia from her house.

BTW - She didn't say it - Tina Fey did. But you still drank the Kool Aid that was served to you by your masters in believing such.

Speaking of Russia, how's that "reset" been workin' for ya? You know the one where the word "reset" was misspelled in Russian on the button that Hillary gave to the foreign minister. Feelin' like a dope yet?

Mark offers, "People who react favorably to Obama portrayed as alien, as someone not even born here, who doesn't have the right to be President. That is Sarah Palin's core group of voters."

Other than SNL, where do you get any of this evidence? Are you that dim-witted that you actually think Liberal blogs are sacrosanct without question? Bigotry is not a sound base for learning. You should try another method. Although, Obama does love you for it!

What is it about a name like Mark Rukman? Do you know what I do for a living, who my co-workers are, what they do? Look I respect most of my co-workers, and I'm sure a few of them shop at walmart that live out in NJ. That's fine, I would go there if it was closer than Target, it has great prices. It's just that a community that is anchored by a Walmart is probably not that interesting of a place to be. At least for me, and for most of the people that I work with.

Are you a washed up member of an Eagles tribute band, with a name like Jim Walsh?

Perhaps Mr Ruckman, you could demonstrate how and what the Stimulus stimulated other than millions more part-time jobs where once there were full-time ones. And of course it stimulated more government waste.

And you do know it was Tina Fey and not Sarah Palin that said the words you wrote below, right?

Oh, and the last refuge for a leftist when they're out of their league is to cite Bush...good job, you succeeded.

And, in fact Ms Jarrett chose the contractor...a friend of hers. No wonder it was a disaster.

Palin, would be dealing with McCain and his complete disaster of a foreign policy. We would be in a war with Iran and probably China. Our debt because of the spending on war would be even more than it is today. So maybe the FP isn't so bad. Yes this is a weak spot for Obama, but the alternative would not have been pretty

What's so puerile about it? Not any less puerile than Ms. Palin's prostitution of herself and her family on TV. Pretends like she cares about America, but really she's after the big bucks (no pun intended).

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